How-To Tuesday: JK Wrangler Backup Camera Installation
I’m sure that someone inside Fiat Chrysler can give you a good reason as to why there isn’t a factory backup camera on the Wrangler. I’m going to guess that the answer is that you really do not need to concern yourself with what is behind you, as you can simply drive over it in reverse. Unless it’s something large and in your blind spot, and in that case, you’ll hit it and wish that you had a backup camera while you’re cursing your inability to see things.
One question, and I think it is a valid question: can you name the only vehicle that Jeep makes that DOES NOT have a backup camera option? Tick-tock… tick-tock. Give up? Oh, that’s right, the Wrangler. Even that little Renegade thing has a backup camera option! Of everything that the company makes, the one thing that gets taken off road the most, and could probably use a camera the most… well, sorry, no dice. If you want one, you are on your own.
So you’re on your own and now you want to do something about it, you say? Well this week’s How-To Tuesday article has you covered. The article mentions that this is a moderately difficult task for you to take on. I would venture to say that depending on your knowledge of electrical wiring, that may be the truth. But either way, patience will be a virtue on this DIY project.
The cool thing is that there really are several spots to locate the camera, it just depends on the view you are looking for. I’m a fan of a centered and somewhat high-mounted view myself. But to each their own. You can certainly soft wire a location and see what the view is before permanently mounting something, which I would recommend.
So have you taken on this task yourself? Any tricks that you want to pass along? Let us know!